Water contamination found in So. Berwick

Wednesday

Sep 12, 2018 at 9:31 AMSep 12, 2018 at 4:22 PM

By Mark Pechenik news@seacoastonline.com

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — The Town Council discussed water contamination at its meeting Tuesday.

Chairman Jack Kareckas said carbon tetrachloride was discovered in a well recently dug by a Hooper Sands Road homeowner. Tests found the water contains 12 parts per billion of tetrachloride, a known carcinogen, above the federal standard of 5 ppb. The council was informed of the well’s contents on Monday, Sept. 10.

The same contamination issue plagued the Hooper Sands area in the late 1990s, according to Kareckas. “For a couple of years, people in the area had to drink bottled water,” he said.

Councilor Mallory Cook asked if contamination may be more widespread “than it was before.”

“It is a possibility,” Councilor Russell Abell said.

If this is the case, Kareckas asked the council to consider establishing a groundwater protection zone. Such an ordinance would require residents to use water supplied by the town’s Water Department. In addition, any building permits issued for the Hooper Sands area would require the installation of town water.

Abell urged research be conducted on who is responsible for dealing with the contamination issue.

“Environmental regulations from the Maine Department of Environmental Protection” may take precedence over town ordinances, he said. “I wouldn’t want the town to take on liability if, for example, someone feels their property is devalued because of this issue.”

Councilor John James agreed. “I’d rather let organizations that own this matter, own it,” he said.

Town Manager Perry Ellsworth said “testing of other (water) wells in the vicinity” will be undertaken by the town. Ellsworth will also reach out to DEP to determine next steps on dealing with the contamination.

In other business

Ellsworth said blasting of ledge at the new police station site off Route 236, cost more than anticipated. “It cost $30,000 more than we had planned but we will make up for it in other ways,” he said, adding sewer work on the property will begin next week.

Ellsworth said survey work on the Macleod property will be completed by Saturday, Sept. 15. A trail and parking lot on the property will provide access to the Orris Falls Conservation Area. Sealed bids at a minimum of $100,000 will be opened at the council’s Oct. 23 meeting for the property’s remaining 9.5 acres.

Ellsworth said an appeal of the town code officer’s ruling to deny the opening of a marijuana sales storefront will take place at the Zoning Board of Adjustment’s Sept. 18 meeting.

Removal of the condemned Vine Street bridge’s concrete and piers will begin soon while retaining rods on the adjacent dam have been grouted and tightened, he said.

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